Lou, it looks like a perforated Brisfit might be the norm. At this rate Abbott will have to thank his mechanics each day before even getting into his machine prior to a mission. Good to see that he is able to dish out as much in return. As to Ziggy, I say friendly fire should be returned with thanks.
MFair, you are all too right with the poor controls after “light” damage as can be witnessed in Ziggy’s next mission.
Carrick, second operation? First they clip the tail, now the ears.
After a long period in hospital Zygmunt was glad to be back in the air. He was basking in the true sunlight. No need for any kind of lamps. They were tasked today with intercepting enemy planes crossing the front near Diksmuide. After reaching the assigned intercept area Schwarm Zwei remained on station lying in wait for the enemy machines that were reported to show up any minute. Ziggy noticed the large enemy plane formation first and initiated a climb to gain advantage over them. As he closed in, he could see one formation was followed by another. The first wave consisted of SPADs and Nieuports. He bypassed them, leaving them to the rest of his flight and concentrated on the following group of planes, taking them on all by himself if need be. He took another look and was instantly relieved. It was Schwarm Eins herding the enemy machines towards Schwarm Zwei. Hahn realized they had the enemy squeezed in an Albatros vice. Zygmunt fired at an oncoming SPAD then quickly switched to a more nimble Nieuport. He fired and kept his one eye on that SPAD, which was now completing his turn behind Ziggy. The Nieuport dove and the Albatros went after, hopefully leaving the SPAD behind. The two machines duelled for a while longer until Ziggy’s final burst, which caused the little sesquiplane to dive all the way down to the deck. Hahn observed from above as the Frenchman recovered at the very last moment, but could not keep the plane level. After another semicircle above the mud he scraped his lower wing on the ground, leaving it behind and causing the entire plane to careen over the surface and finally disintegrate completely.
Zygmunt looked around for more trouble, which he found pirouetting in close proximity. Two Albatrosen were chasing what looked like two more Nieuports. Hahn joined the fray and went after a machine painted in brown and green camouflage. This one had a Lewis mounted on it’s top wing, like the old Nieuports used to have. They danced for a short time before Ziggy’s well aimed volley crippled the enemy’s machine. The Nieuport went into a spiralling dive from which it never recovered. That was the last of the enemies and the Schwarm returned to Ghistelles after reforming.
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
